2G, 3G, 4G…what’s next? If you’re not quite sure what the next generation of wireless technology looks like, you’re not alone. 5G has been in development for years, but its roll-out has been slow and rife with uncertainty surrounding what it means and how it will impact our lives. With big names like AT&T, Dish Network, and T-Mobile racing to make the first 5G launch later this year, we should have more clarity soon. Here’s what you need to know about 5G and why it matters.
How fast will 5G be?
With speeds in excess of 100 megabits per second (Mbps), 5G will be 100x faster than today’s average 4G LTE connections. And while we won’t be able to take advantage of 5G right away, that speed means big things for consumers and business. For example, a file that takes 10 minutes to download on 4G LTE would take about two seconds with 5G—that means you could download an entire HD movie in just 30 seconds! And with technologies like self-driving cars and smart cities relying on high-speed networks in order to function optimally, it’s no wonder network companies are spending billions on more spectrum so they can keep up with increased traffic.
Where will it work?
5G works best in densely populated areas where there are lots of people using data-heavy applications and services. Right now, most of these locations are cities. 5G is expected to provide much faster wireless speeds than previous generations of wireless technology but it’s not expected to do so everywhere—at least not right away. Because 5G works better in dense areas with high numbers of connected devices and because it requires upgrades to cell towers, carriers that have access to densely populated cities will likely be first out of the gate with 5G service. In particular, AT&T and Verizon own a lot of valuable spectrum that they’ll use for early deployments.
Each carrier is working on 5G deployment at its own pace. Verizon says it will launch 5G in select cities later in 2018, AT&T has said it plans to do so in 2019 and Sprint has yet to announce a firm timeline for when it will offer 5G service. T-Mobile plans on having all of its 4G network converted into a combination of LTE Advanced and 5G technology by 2020—which means consumers who currently have T-Mobile coverage may see some benefits from 5G even though not every device or area will support it right away.
When will it be available?
5G networks are still a ways off. AT&T and T-Mobile both said their networks will be in place by 2020. Until then, it might be a good idea to make sure you can take advantage of 4G LTE as much as possible. Downloading an app like Onavo Count helps you track how much data you use on your smartphone so that when a 5G network arrives near you, it won’t catch you off guard. Besides AT&T and T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless also announced plans to roll out its 5G network in some parts of 2018—in other words we’ll have to wait just a little bit longer for next-generation wireless connectivity.
